“King of Clay” Retires: 5 Grand Slam Finals That Made Nadal’s Name Forever Engraved in Tennis Books

Following the Davis Cup finals in November, Rafael Nadal announced he’d be retiring from men’s tennis, capping an incredible career that had seen him win 22 Grand Slam titles.

Rafael Nadal, who announced his retirement at the age of 38, was the “King of Clay”, but he also ruled on all other tennis court surfaces throughout his 22 Grand Slam victories.

Two days after turning 19, he defeated Mariano Puerta in the final to win his first major title at the French Open. Seventeen years later, he won his final and 14th Roland Garros title. The Spaniard won all four majors despite being most dominant on clay. The eight Grand Slam titles he earned on different surfaces—two Wimbledons, two Australian Opens, and four US Opens—would tie for eighth place in the annals of men’s tennis history on their own.

During his most successful year, 2010, Nadal made the sport’s books by being the first male player to win Grand Slams on three distinct surfaces in one year. He had an incredible 81-match clay-court winning run from 2005 to 2007, which Roger Federer finally ended in Hamburg. In this particular span of time, Nadal won 13 straight clay championships.

It’s possible that Nadal’s unrelenting agility, power, and mental toughness during play led to the injuries that dogged his later career. The left-hander was also a great hitter, especially with his fierce forehand top-spin stroke.
Let’s recall five of the Spaniard’s most illustrious Slam finals:

# 5 – 2005 French Open

That’s when it all started. The unknown 37-year-old Mariano Puerta of Argentina was beaten: (6)7-6, 3-6, 1-6, 5-7. Nadal wouldn’t lose another match on the Paris clay until 2009.

The 18-year-old left-hander, born in Mallorca, had high expectations and a tremendous top-spin forehand. He emerged victorious in the three clay-court lead-up events held in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome. He breezed through the French Open draw in 2005, defeating world No. 1 Roger Federer in the semifinals. Nadal, who turned 19 on the day, prevailed over the Swiss 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

# 4 – 2008 Wimbledon

Nadal took down Federer: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), and 9-7.
After a thrilling four hours and 48 minutes of play (with three rain delays), Nadal emerged victorious in a battle that’s regarded by many as the greatest tennis match of all time.

To avoid getting swept, Federer overcame a two-set deficit and then even saved two match points in the fourth set.

The level of play remained unparalleled until Federer made a mistake late in the evening when even court lights couldn’t make the proper visibility, due to which the Hawk-Eye system was turned off, finding the net to give Nadal his first Wimbledon victory.

# 3 – 2009 Australian Open

Nadal vs. Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2.

Nadal again prevailed over Federer in a thrilling five-set match that lasted almost as long as the one at 2008 Wimbledon: four and a half hours.
The rarity is that the match began less than 24 hours after Nadal’s five-hour and 14-minute marathon to defeat fellow countryman Fernando Verdasco in a five-set semifinal.

Federer was about to tie Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam victories when Nadal pulled off an amazing comeback and endurance performance that won him his first Australian Open.

# 2 – 2012 Australian Open

This match is on the list even though he lost it to Novak Djoković by 7-5, 4-6, 2-6, (5)7-6, 5-7.

It was a memorable match between world number one Djoković and second-ranked Nadal that will live on in legend. It lasted five hours and 53 minutes and was the ultimate test of ability and endurance. Both players were practically out on their feet when the longest Grand Slam final in history ended at 1:37 a.m.!

All night, the two sent vicious hits to each other; at the conclusion of one particularly tiring 31-shot rally, the Serb fell, and the Spaniard toppled over the sidelines. Both players had to take a seat for the trophy ceremony. They were completely worn out.

# 1 – 2022 Australian Open

Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
The 35-year-old player defeated the Russian in a thrilling comeback to win a 21st Slam title even though he was only the third favorite to win the tournament according to the odds of bookmakers for tennis, behind Medvedev and Alexander Zverev.

In addition to saving three break points in the third set, Nadal became the first man in the Open era to win the Australian Open after trailing two sets. The match lasted for a demanding five hours and 24 minutes.